352 MATTHEW ARNOLD. 



few years later, in 1865, of his "Essays in Criticism." "A disinter- 

 ested endeavor to learn and propagate the best that is known and 

 thought in the world ; " " in all branches of knowledge, theology, phi- 

 losophy, history, art, science, to see the object as in itself it really is ; " 

 " to know the best that is known and thought in the world, and, by in 

 its turn making this known, to create a current of true and fresh 

 ideas," — this was Arnold's definition of the nature and business of 

 criticism. It was a new and fruitful conception for the English mind. 

 The first suggestion of it doubtless came to him from Goethe and 

 Sainte-Beuve, but neither of them had formulated the method and 

 motive of criticism with such precision. Subject, form, style, are not 

 the final object of criticism, but the life they exhibit. It is the criticism 

 of life that underlies all true criticism of books, of manners, of institu- 

 tions. And it was as a critic in this sense that Arnold treated the 

 deepest problems of our time, literary, theological, and social. 



He held the Professorship of Poetry for two terms of five years, as 

 long as under its statute it could be held consecutively by the same 

 person. As years went on he wrote less poetry, and fewer essays on 

 literary topics. He devoted himself mainly to the study and criticism of 

 theological and religious questions. He was by nature deeply religious. 

 The rapid growth of scepticism and unbelief among large sections of the 

 English people, including many of the most thoughtful and serious minds, 

 seemed to him largely due to the false notions prevalent in the churches, 

 and embodied in their accepted creeds, as to the real nature of the Bible, 

 and the true character of Jesus and of his teachings. He applied his 

 critical method to the exposition of these subjects. He treated them 

 with a free hand, but there could be no question of the seriousness and 

 sincerity of his aim. His attempt, as he said, " was an attempt con- 

 servative, an attempt religious." His work has had great effect, and 

 probably no single influence during the past twenty-five years has done 

 more to lift the character of theological discussion from dogmatic advo- 

 cacy of special doctrines to disinterested inquiry and investigation of the 

 truth. 



After a period of more than thirty years' service as Inspector of 

 Schools, he retired from the place on a scanty pension, with the intent 

 of giving himself more entirely to literature. In 1883-84 he visited 

 America and delivered three or four striking and interesting lectures in 

 many of our cities. But he was not fitted for a popular lecturer. His 

 delivery did not do justice to his thought. His discourse, full of charm 

 of style, full of literary distinction, and full of independent thought that 

 required openness of mind for its just appreciation, fell coldly on audi- 



